Howard: Knee Pain Was Too Much To Play

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 27: Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies sits on the field in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 27, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)(Credit: Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — For Ryan Howard, the pain became too much.

The Philadelphia Phillies put their slugging first baseman on the 15-day disabled list Saturday because of inflammation in his left knee.

“It was just really hard to move, really felt stiff,” Howard said Sunday after Philadelphia’s 7-3 win over Atlanta. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it. It was more sore than it would normally be.”

Howard is scheduled to have an MRI on Monday.

“It’s tough because I definitely want to be out there. But at the same time I want to be smart about it,” he said.

The three-time All-Star is hitting .266 with 11 homers and 43 RBIs. He said he continued to play through the pain because he thought he could perform.

“I felt I still could go out and play and try to give it a go,” he said.